Grab bucket



\ W. J. EATON GRAB BUCKET Filed May 2. 1921 INVENTOR ATI'O RNEY Patented May 1, 1923.

WA'litIvvilillif J. EATON, 0F lfltID131 115713 PENNSYLVANIA.

GRAB BUCKET.

Application filedlilay 2, 1921. Serial No. 466,063.

Pennsylvania, have invented new and use,

ful Improvements in Grab Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grab buckets, and more particularly to 'a bucket ofthat type which employs two digging members or spades movable toward each other for cutting into the material to be loaded.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a bucket of the character stated consisting of a minimum of parts and of simple construction and operation in which comparatively great power is utilized for operating the cutting jaws or spades. A further object is to provide a bucket in which the spades are moved toward each other at equal rates so as to retain the bucket in centered relation to the supporting member or cable. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a bucket constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a front view;

Figure 3 is a top plan view;

Figure 4 is a top plan of the bucket in open position, partly broken away.

The bucket includes two arcuate spades 1 and 2 of a known type which are adapted to cutinto and to retain the material to be loaded. Arms 3 are secured at their lower ends to spade 1 adjacent to theouter end thereof, the upper ends of these arms being secured on a shaft 4 which is passed loosely through sleeves 5 secured at their outer ends to the upper ends of arms 6 corresponding to arms 3, these arms 6 being secured at their lower ends to the outer end of spade 21' The sleeves 5 and shaft 4 provide means for supporting the arms 3 and 6 of the spades 1 and 2, respectively, for independent rocking movement for moving the spades toward or away from each other.

As will be noted more clearly from Figure 4, sleeves 5 are rigidly connected at their inner ends by a bridge element 7 to which is secured the inner end of an operating arm 8 which is slotted at its outer end, within which is rotatably supported a groovedpulley 9. An operating arm 10 is secured to shaft 4 between sleeves 5 and is slotted at its outer end to receive a grooved pulley 11,

Whenthe arms S and 10 are movedtoward each other the spades 1 and2 willbe forced toward each other through the medium of shaft 4 and sleeves 5, and arms 3 and 6.

A pin bolt 14 is loosely secured through V a housing 13 of substantially inverted Uf-g shape, this bolt receiving on ,itsend pore.

tions eyes 15 providedat the upper endsof brace rods 16 which are secured throughthef Ter OFFlfCE.. ff

side walls. of. spades 1 and 2adjacent to the outer ends thereof, the eyes ,15being confined between the arms of housing'13 and suitable washers 17 held upon the bolt cotter pins, or inany other suitablenor preferred I manner; If desired, though not necessarily, suitablespacing members 18 may be providedwithin housing 13 to prevent spreading or compressing of the end walls or arms of this housing; an eye 19 being secured through the top of housing 13 centrally thereof to receive ahook attached to the usual cable for raising or'lo'wering, the

bucket.

A double grooved pulley 20 is rotatably mounted upon pin 14 centrally thereof, this pulley being positioned substantially in the 1 vertical plane of pulleys 9 and 11. An op erating cable 21 is secured at one end, at 22, to cover or hood 13 this cable being then passed beneath pulley 9 and over pulley 20 and then led beneath pulley 11 and upwardly about pulley 20, the cable being then passed through a'suitable opening through the top wall of housing 13. By tensioning cable 21 pulleys 9 and 11 are forced toward each other with much greater force than that exerted to tension the cable due to the fact that this cable is separated into four runs or laps by being passed about the pulleys, This renders it possible to obtain com paratively great force for moving the spades 1 and 2 together. In practice, cable 21 is slacked to permit opening of spades 1 and 2, V 5 I this being caused by downwardmovement of shaft 4 and the parts associated therewith.

After the spades have been moved into open position, as in Figure 4, the bucket is then dropped upon the materialwhich it is desired to load, after which cable 21 is tensioned and wound up so as to force the spades 1 and 2 toward each other cutting into the material which is retained by the mit opening of the bucket for discharging the same.

The bucket constructed in this manner comprises a minimum number of parts and is highly eflicient as Well as being of extremely simple construction and operation. In addition, I provide simple and direct acting means whereby comparatively great power may be readily exerted for forcing the spades;tofuard each other.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the character described comprising companion spade members, a

pivot secured to one of said spade members, sleeves surrounding the pivot and being secured to the other spade member, a bridge element connecting the confronting ends of the sleeves, an operating arm carried by the bridge element, an operating arm carried by the pivot and adaptedto swing in the same plane With the first mentioned arm, and means associated With the arms to operate the spade members. in unison.

2. In a device of the character described comprising companion spade members, a pivot secured to one of said spade members, sleeves surrounding the pivot and being secured to the other spade member, a bridge element connecting the confronting ends of the sleeves, an operating arm carried by the bridge element, an operating arm carried by the pivot and adapted to swing in the same plane with the first mentioned arm, a pulley and trained around the respective pulleys.

and thence through the housing for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my sign ature'.

WARREN J. EATGN. 

